Method for Enabling Exchange of User Profiles Between a Visited Network and a Home Network

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method ( 40 ) in a visited gateway server ( 21 ) in a communication system ( 1 ) comprising a home network ( 10 ) and a visited network ( 20 ) for enabling exchange of user profiles between a visited user profile server ( 22 ) of the visited network ( 20 ) and a home user profile server ( 12 ) of the home network ( 10 ), the method comprising: receiving ( 41 ) a user identification from a user equipment ( 2 ) requesting access to the visited network ( 20 ); transmitting ( 42 ), in response to received user identification, an identifier of the visited user profile server ( 22 ) to the user equipment ( 2 ) for conveyance by the user equipment ( 2 ) to the home user profile server ( 12 ), thereby enabling the exchange of user profiles. The invention also relates to visited gateway server, methods in a visited user profile server, visited user profile server, and methods in a user equipment, user equipment and computer programs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to devices and methods for enabling exchange ofuser profiles between a visited user profile server of the visitednetwork and a home user profile server of the home network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's dynamic business environment it is important for an operatorof a communication system to have as much information about theirsubscribers as possible. The operator is thereby able to offer thesubscribers more personalized and thus more valuable services. Thesubscribers can be provided with nearly unlimited choices for services,tailored to their unique personalities, preferences and lifestyles.

Today, some difficulties are encountered when acquiring informationabout specific subscribers, in the following also denoted users. Many ofthe techniques used for deriving user preferences are based on userrepresentation in a declarative and static way. However, in today'senvironment, user context often changes, which necessitates the need toadapt the services being used by the user in accordance with his/herscurrent context. An effort to improve this static user knowledgecomprises using machine learning algorithms, which is a more advancedtechnique for depicting user preferences.

The gathering/acquisition of information about specific subscribersentails also another difficult aspect: the integrity of the subscriber.User preferences are stored in user profiles and in order to maintainpersonal privacy a separate user profile may for example be kept for anidentity in a specific user context. This not only ensures protection ofthe information but also allows the user to have different preferencesfor different contexts.

A user roaming between different communication networks is preferablyprovided services suited for his current context. For example, if theuser is on vacation in a particular country, he may prefer and needdifferent services than if he is on a work journey. Today, the useraccessing services in a first communication network or a first locationis not able to continue to use those equivalent services withoutinterruption when moving to a new location or different communicationnetwork, even provided the service is accessible at this new location.

Existing user profile management systems offer up-to-the-minuteinformation about one single subscriber view, including updates to thesubscriber's profile. Each operator domain persists in using theirparticular user profile solution in order to enable them to consolidateand/or federate real-time information such as data in their homelocation register (HLR), home subscriber server (HSS) or in multipledatabase types across their communication network. There is a need forproviding personalized user preferences even when the user is movingacross boundaries of different communication networks and meeting theuser's current needs and demands without provoking privacy.

In “Service Invocation and Roaming in Pervasive-Computing Environments”by Alvin Yung Chian Chin, a framework is developed for a serviceparadigm that facilitates a user to perform a particular task to getaccess to services in a seamless manner, tailored to their preferencesand to the location that they are in. However, the document fails toconsider roaming scenarios.

A challenge thus comprises how to find a unified, manageable, consistentuser preference or user profile across boundaries of differentoperator's communication networks, without increasing the operationalcosts and without compromising the user privacy. It is clear that thereis a need for improvements in this regards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to enable subscribers of acommunication network to obtain tailored services even when roaming,with maintained user integrity.

The object is according to a first aspect of the invention achieved by amethod in a visited gateway server in a communication system. Thecommunication system comprises a home network and a visited network forenabling exchange of user profiles between a visited user profile serverof the visited network and a home user profile server of the homenetwork. The method comprises receiving a user identification from auser equipment requesting access to the visited network; transmitting,in response to received user identification, an identifier of thevisited user profile server to the user equipment for conveyance by theuser equipment to the home user profile server, thereby enabling theexchange of user profiles.

By enabling the exchange of user profiles between the home network andthe visited network, services provided to a user may be adapted inaccordance with the user's context information associated with his/herscurrent identity and/or location. The exchange of user profiles enablesan adaptation of the services provided to the user, who thereby is ableto get tailored services when roaming within the communication system.

In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting the identifier ofthe visited user profile server to an authentication, authorization andaccounting proxy of the visited network. The proxy is thereby able toconvey the identifier of the visited user profile server to anauthentication, authorization and accounting server of the home network.

In one embodiment, the step of receiving user identification from theuser equipment is performed during a procedure for initiating, by theuser equipment, a new access to the visiting network.

In one embodiment, the identifier of the visited user profile servercomprises a unique identifier pointing to the visited user profileserver.

The unique identifier may for instance comprise a domain name address orInternet protocol address.

The object is according to a second aspect of the invention achieved bya visited gateway server in a communication system comprising a homenetwork and a visited network for enabling exchange of user profilesbetween a visited user profile server of the visited network and a homeuser profile server of the home network. The visited gateway servercomprises receiving circuitry for receiving user identification from auser equipment, and transmitting circuitry. The visited gateway serveris configured to transmit, by means of the transmitting circuitry, anidentifier of the visited user profile server to the user equipment inresponse to receiving, by means of the receiving circuitry, the useridentification, for conveyance by the user equipment to the home userprofile server. Thereby the visited user profile server and the homeuser profile server are able to initiate user profiles exchange.

The object is according to a third aspect of the invention achieved by acomputer program for enabling, in a communication system comprising ahome network and a visited network, exchange of user profiles between avisited user profile server of the visited network and a home userprofile server of the home network. The computer program comprisescomputer program code which, when run on a visited gateway server of thevisited network, causes the visited gateway server to: receive a useridentification from a user equipment requesting access to the visitednetwork; transmit, in response to receiving the user identification, anidentifier of the visited user profile server to the user equipment forconveyance by the user equipment to the home user profile server,whereby the visited user profile server and the home user profile serverare able to exchange user profiles.

In one embodiment, a computer program product is provided. The computerprogram product comprises the computer program and a computer readablemeans on which the computer program is stored.

The object is according to a fourth aspect of the invention achieved bya method in a visited user profile server of a communication systemcomprising a home network and a visited network for enabling exchange ofuser profiles between a home user profile server of the home network anda visited user profile server of the visited network. The methodcomprises: receiving from the home user profile server a user profilefor a user visiting the visited network; creating a temporary userprofile for the user based on the received user profile; receiving newuser profile preferences for the user obtained while the user roams inthe visited network; and updating the temporary user profile with thenew user profile preferences.

The received user profile may for instance be based on one or more of: apre-configured policy, a service level agreement between the homenetwork and the visited network, user profile information allowed by theuser and/or subscription data of the user.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further steps of: receivinga close connection message; updating, in response to the closeconnection message, the temporary user profile in the visited userprofile server, the updating comprising new user profile preferences;transmitting to the home user profile server the updated user profile.

In a variation of the above embodiment the method comprises the step of,after transmitting to the home user profile server the updated userprofile, deleting in the visited user profile server the temporary userprofile for the user.

The object is according to a fifth aspect of the invention achieved byvisited user profile server of a communication system comprising a homenetwork and a visited network for enabling exchange of user profilepreferences between a home user profile server of the home network and avisited user profile server of the visited network, the visited userprofile server comprising: first receiving circuitry configured toreceive from the home user profile server a user profile for a uservisiting the visited network; first processing circuitry configured tocreate a temporary user profile for the user based on the user profilereceived by means of the first receiving circuitry; and secondprocessing circuitry configured to update the temporary user profilewith new user profile preferences obtained while the user equipmentroams in the visited network.

In one embodiment, the visited user profile server further comprises:second receiving circuitry configured to receive a close connectionmessage; third processing circuitry configured to update the temporaryuser profile in the visited user profile server, the updating comprisingnew user profile preferences; first transmitting circuitry configured totransmit to the home user profile server the updated user profile.

The object is according to a sixth aspect of the invention achieved bycomputer program for enabling, in a communication system comprising ahome network and a visited network, exchange of user profiles between avisited user profile server of the visited network and a home userprofile server of the home network, the computer program comprisingcomputer program code which, when run on the visited user profile serverof the visited network, causes the visited user profile server to:receive from the home user profile server a user profile for a uservisiting the visited network; create a temporary user profile for theuser based on the received user profile; and update the temporary userprofile with new user profile preferences obtained while the user roamsin the visited network.

In one embodiment, the computer program further comprises computerprogram code which, when run on the visited user profile server of thevisited network, causes the visited user profile server to: receive aclose connection message; update the temporary user profile in thevisited user profile server, the updating comprising latest user profilepreferences; and transmit to the home user profile server the updateduser profile.

In one embodiment, computer program product is provided comprising thecomputer program and computer readable means on which the computerprogram is stored.

The object is according to a seventh aspect of the invention achieved bya method in a user equipment of a communication system comprising a homenetwork and a visited network for enabling exchange of user profilesbetween a home user profile server of the home network and a visiteduser profile server of the visited network. The method comprises:requesting access to the visited network; receiving, in response to therequest, from a visited gateway server of the visited network, anidentifier of a visited user profile server; and conveying theidentifier of the visited user profile server to the home user profileserver.

In one embodiment, the step of conveying the identifier of the visiteduser profile server comprises: performing a mobile internet protocol,MIP, registration or binding; adding in the MIP registration or bindingan identifier of the visited user profile server; and conveying theidentifier of the visited user profile server to the home user profileserver.

In one embodiment, the step of conveying the identifier of the visiteduser profile server comprises adding in a registration or bindingrequest message the identifier of the visited user profile server. Themethod is thus applicable in communication systems using differentversions of internet protocols, e.g. IPv4 or IPv6.

In one embodiment, the identifier of the visited user profile servercomprises a unique identifier pointing to the visited user profileserver.

The unique identifier may for instance comprise a domain name address orInternet protocol address.

The object is according to a eighth aspect of the invention achieved byuser equipment of a communication system comprising a home network and avisited network for enabling exchange of user profiles between a homeuser profile server of the home network and a visited user profileserver of the visited network. The user equipment comprises a firstprocessor configured to: request access to the visited network utilizingaccess circuitry; receive, by means of first receiving circuitry and inresponse to the request, from a visited gateway server of the visitednetwork, an identifier of a visited user profile server; and convey,using first transmitting circuitry, the identifier of the visited userprofile server to the home user profile server.

The object is according to a ninth aspect of the invention achieved by acomputer program for enabling, in a communication system comprising ahome network and a visited network, exchange of user profiles between avisited user profile server of the visited network and a home userprofile server of the home network, exchange of user profiles between avisited user profile server of the visited network and a home userprofile server of the home network, the computer program comprisingcomputer program code which, when run on a user equipment, causes theuser equipment to: request access to the visited network; receive, inresponse to said request, from a visited gateway server of the visitednetwork, an identifier of a visited user profile server; and convey theidentifier of the visited user profile server to the home user profileserver.

In one embodiment, a computer program product is provided comprising acomputer program computer readable means on which the computer programis stored.

Further features and advantages thereof will become clear upon readingthe following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an environment in which the presentinvention can be applied.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically devices involved in a roaming scenarioand communication paths between the devices.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between entitiesof FIG. 2 at access request.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between entitiesof FIG. 2 at termination of access.

FIG. 5 a illustrates a visited gateway server.

FIG. 5 b illustrates computer program and computer program product forthe visited gateway server of FIG. 5 a.

FIG. 6 a illustrates a user equipment.

FIG. 6 b illustrates computer program and computer program product forthe user equipment of FIG. 6 a.

FIG. 7 a illustrates a visited user profile server.

FIG. 7 b illustrates computer program and computer program product forthe visited user profile server of FIG. 7 a.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart over steps in a method in a visited gatewayserver.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart over steps in the method of FIG. 8 in accordancewith one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart over steps in a method in a visited user profileserver.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart over steps in the method of FIG. 10 inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart over steps in the method of FIG. 10 inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart over steps in a method in user equipment.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart over steps in the method of FIG. 13 inaccordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and notlimitation, specific details are set forth such as particulararchitectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide athorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced in otherembodiments that depart from these specific details. In other instances,detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods areomitted so as not to obscure the description of the invention withunnecessary detail. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout thedescription.

In the following, user and subscriber are used interchangeably fordenoting a user of a user equipment for which a subscription forcommunication services has been signed with an operator of acommunication system.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an environment in which the presentinvention can be applied. A communication system 1, which may forinstance comprise a system conforming to LTE Advanced standard,comprises the communication networks of at least a first and a secondservice provider, also denoted operator. In the following descriptionsuch first and second service providers' communication networks aredenoted home network 10 and visited network 20, respectively. Theservice provider of the home network 10 and the service provider of thevisited network 20 have service level agreements (SLA) them between, andother preconfigured policies, covering information ownership, accesspolicies, who are allowed to store information, access and forward suchcontext etc. The subscriber's consensus to share his/her preferences isfurther presupposed. The subscriber may have allowed his/her homenetwork 10 to share to the visited network 20 all or only a subset ofthe preferences available in the home network 10.

The home network 10 comprises a home policy server 13, and the visitednetwork 20 comprises a visited policy server 23. The policy server 13,23 is a security component based on policy control technology thatprovides authorization services and facilitates tracking and control ofamong other profile sharing policies authorization. The policy server13, 23 accepts user profile sharing requests, processes them against aformal set of statements that define how such profiles are to beallocated among its requesters.

The home network 10 and the visited network 20 both comprise arespective user profile server, denoted home user profile server 12 inthe home network 10 and visited user profile server 22 in the visitednetwork 20. The user profile servers 12, 22 may have their ownmechanisms for obtaining user preferences or user profiles. Machinelearning algorithms may for instance be to this end. The user profileservers 12, 22 creates and store short term and long term user profilesdepending on an analysis of data regarding the user such as subscriptiondatabase, network nodes, location etc. The user profile server, or userprofile engine UPE, as such is subject of a co-pending patentapplication, assigned to the same Applicant as the present application.

The home network 10 comprises a home gateway 11 and home agent 14 inconventional manner. Likewise, the visited network 20 comprises avisited gateway 21 and foreign agent 24. The home network 10 furthercomprises an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server19, whereas the visited network 20 correspondingly comprises an AAAproxy 29. Conventionally, the service providers apply some securityprocedure before accessing services, which procedures are performed inthe AAA server 19 and AAA proxy 29, respectively.

A subscriber having a user equipment 2 has a subscription with theservice provider of the home network 10, and is able to roam to thevisited network 20 by means of which another service provider providesservices. The home network 10 and the visited network 20 have roamingagreements and, as mentioned earlier, possibly other agreements definingthe user profile exchange or sharing.

Picture a scenario wherein the visited network 20 wants to e.g. pushsome advertisements to the subscriber roaming therein. In order todecide when and what to be pushed for advertisements to the subscriber,the visited network 20 would like to know more about the subscriber.However, the visited network 20 has no access to the traffic data orother subscription data that could be analyzed in order to find aprofile best describing the subscriber. The visited network 20 needs auser profile containing the latest user context.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically devices involved in a roaming scenarioand communication between the devices. A vertical, dashed line indicatesa border between devices of the home network 10 (left hand side) anddevices of the visited network 20 (right hand side). Arrows in the FIG.2 are denoted with “step” and a number, and for example the denotation“step 3” corresponds to “at arrow 3” in the following.

At arrow 1, upon attachment to a new access, the user equipment 2 startsan association or discovery and handshaking procedure toward anauthentication agent or authenticator, e.g. the foreign agent 24, in thevisited gateway server 21.

At arrow 2, the discovery procedure for the AAA proxy 29 in the visitednetwork 20 is performed.

At arrow 3, the access authentication procedure is carried on withoutany information concerning the discovery of policy server 23 or thevisited user profile server 22. The steps indicated at arrows 1, 2 and 3are known procedures and are therefore not described in any detail.

At arrow 4, a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) for a local IP(Internet Protocol) address is run, which is an auto-configurationprotocol used on IP networks. The user equipment 2 is configured with anidentifier, e.g. an address, to the visited user profile server 22,which is done in dependence on the assigned IP address.

At arrow 5, an IP session setup request is sent to the visited policyserver 23. The visited policy server 23 forwards the request to thevisited user profile server 22.

At arrow 6, an IP security is run between the user equipment 2 and theAAA server 19 and the home agent 14 is assigned and the home agent 14 isincluded amongst other information in the IP security signaling.

At arrow 7, the home gateway server 11, which holds the home agent 14for the user, assigns a home IP address and sends an IP session setuprequest to the home policy server 13.

At arrow 8, the user equipment 2 starts an MIP binding update request(for IPv6) or MIP registration request (for IPv4) to the home agent 14including the identifier, e.g. address, to the visited user profileserver 22, wherein the home agent 14 sends update request to the homepolicy server 13.

At arrow 9, the home policy server 13 informs the home user profileserver 12 about the visited user profile server 22 information. For theinteraction between the home policy server 13 and the home user profileserver 12, for instance security assertion markup language (SAML) as anXML-based framework for communicating user authentication, entitlementand attribute information can be used with XCAML.

At arrow 10, the home user profile server 12 initiates interaction withthe visited user profile server 22 for pushing user profile according tospecific authorized policies in the related home policy server 13. Theinterface between the two user profile servers 12, 22 to expose the userprofile can use for example the Standard Semantic Web (RDF/OWL). Thehome user profile server 12 then sends notification to the home policyserver 13, which sends an answer to the home gateway server 11.

At arrow 11, the home gateway server 11 sends MIP acknowledgment oranswer to the user equipment 2.

At arrow 12, the visited user profile engine 22 creates a temporary userprofile, in the following denoted short term profile, for the user basedon a default user profile that it received from the home user profileserver 12. This short term profile is stored in a cache memory 30 or thelike as long as the user is roaming in the visited network 20. Thisshort term profile can be stored in the visited network 20 if this isagreed upon, e.g. in a business SLA agreement.

At arrow 13, the visited user profile server 22 will update the shortterm profile according to new preferences that the user gains whileroaming the visited network 20.

At arrow 14, when the user leaves the visited network 20, the home agentserver 13 receives a termination request, which will be forwarded to thehome user profile server 12 via the home policy server 13.

At arrow 15, the home user profile server 12 sends a close connectionmessage to the visited user profile server 22, expecting an answer inreturn with the latest update made to the short term profile. Thevisited user profile server 22 sends an acknowledge close connectionmessage to the home user profile server 12 with the latest user profilefor the user.

Finally, at arrow 16, the home user profile server 12 will update a userprofile database 31 with the latest update.

Above, an embodiment of the invention has been described. The inventionis however not restricted to this scenario. The user profile servers 12,22 can be used for interacting with other service providers, e.g. a3^(rd) party service provider, requesting the user profile.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between entitiesof FIG. 2 upon access request to the visited network 20. First, anattachment procedure is made between the user equipment 2 and thevisited gateway server 21. The visited gateway server 21 sends inresponse an address pointing to the visited user profile server 22. AMIP binding procedure is performed between the user equipment 2 and thehome gateway server 11, the signaling including the address (uniqueidentifier) to the visited user profile server 22. The home gatewayserver 11 provides the home user profile server 12 the address to thevisited user profile server 22. The home user profile server 12 createsa user profile based on e.g. policies and user consent. By basing theuser profile on user preferences that the user has given his/her consentto, his/her integrity can be maintained. The exchange of user profilesmay now be effectuated between the home and visited user profile servers12, 22. The user profile may be updated in real time in the visited userprofile server 22 as the user is roaming in the visited network 20.

There is no need to assign an IP address prior to the authenticationprocedure, and the implementation is independent of the access controlprotocol used for the authentication. The interaction between the userprofile servers 12, 22 starts first after the IP sessions setup in bothhome network 10 and visited network 20, respectively, and use is made ofpolicy control architecture. This means that there is a need for moresignaling before initiation of the interaction between the user profileservers 12, 22 and the exchange of user profiles is effectuated afterthe MIP establishment is acknowledged by the concerned agent 14, 24.

MIP tunneling procedures and protocols may be used to carry theidentifier, e.g. an address, to the visited user profile server 22 inearly stages to enable a short term user profile creation according topolicies that can be executed in line with the MIP tunneling procedure.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication between theentities of FIG. 2 at termination of access to the visited network 20.The user equipment 2 transmits a termination message to the visitedgateway server 21. A conventional termination procedure is performed,comprising the visited gateway server 21 sending a termination messageto the home gateway server 11. The home gateway server 11 in turn sendsa termination message to the home user profile server 12, which sends aclose connection message to the visited gateway server 21. The visiteduser profile server updates the user profile with the most recent userpreferences and sends the user profile to the home user profile server12, thus terminating the exchange of user profiles. The home userprofile server 12 updates its database with the user profile obtained.The home user profile server 12 is updated with user preferences in realtime based on user's activities in the visited network 20.

The visited gateway server 21 in the communication system 1 will bedescribed next with reference to FIGS. 5 a and 5 b. The visited gatewayserver 21 comprises receiving circuitry 124 for receiving a useridentification from a user equipment 2, and transmitting circuitry 125,which can be circuitry conventionally used.

The visited gateway server 21 is configured to transmit, by means of thetransmitting circuitry 125, an identifier of the visited user profileserver 22 to the user equipment 2 in response to receiving, by means ofthe receiving circuitry 124, the user identification. The user equipment2 is thus able to convey the identifier of the visited user profileserver 22 to the home user profile server 12, whereby the visited userprofile server 22 and the home user profile server 12 are able toinitiate user profiles exchange.

The above can be implemented by a computer program 132 comprisingcomputer program code which, when run on the visited gateway server 21causes the visited gateway server 21 to receive a user identificationfrom a user equipment 2 requesting access to the visited network 20; andto transmit, in response to receiving the user identification, anidentifier of the visited user profile server 22 to the user equipment 2for conveyance by the user equipment 2 to the home user profile server12. In particular, the computer program may be run on a processor 130 ofthe visited gateway server 21 with associated program memory includingcomputer program code for performing the functionality.

In FIG. 5 b, a computer program product 133 is illustrated comprisingthe computer program 132 and computer readable means 131 on which thecomputer program 132 is stored. Such computer readable means 131 may forexample be in the form of a data carrier, like a CD ROM disc, a memorystick or a DVD disc, which will implement the function of theabove-described units when being loaded into a computer.

The user equipment 2 for use in the communication system 1 will bedescribed next with reference to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b. The user equipment 2comprises a first processor 3 configured to request access to thevisited network 20 utilizing access circuitry 4; and to receive, bymeans of first receiving circuitry 5 and in response to the request,from a visited gateway server 21 of the visited network 20, anidentifier of a visited user profile server 22; and to convey, usingfirst transmitting circuitry 6, the identifier of the visited userprofile server 22 to the home user profile server 12.

The above can be implemented by a computer program 82 comprisingcomputer program code which, when run on the first processor 3 causesthe user equipment perform the above described functionality. Inparticular, the first processor 3 with associated program memoryincluding computer program code performs the desired functionality.

In FIG. 6 b, a computer program product 83 is illustrated comprising thecomputer program 82 and computer readable means 81 on which the computerprogram 82 is stored. Such computer readable means 81 may for example bein the form of a data carrier, like a CD ROM disc, a memory stick or aDVD disc, which will implement the function of the above-described unitswhen being loaded into a computer or the first processor 3.

The visited user profile server 22 will be described next with referenceto FIGS. 7 a and 7 b. The visited user profile server 22 comprises firstreceiving circuitry 40 configured to receive from the home user profileserver 12 a user profile for a user visiting the visited network 20,first processing circuitry 41 configured to create a temporary userprofile for the user based on the user profile received by means of thefirst receiving circuitry 40, and second processing circuitry 42configured to update the temporary user profile with new user profilepreferences obtained while the user equipment roams in the visitednetwork 20. The first and second processing circuitry 41, 42 may be partof a single processor and the first receiving circuitry 40 may beconventional circuitry for receiving signals.

In one embodiment, the visited user profile server 22 further comprisessecond receiving circuitry 43 configured to receive a close connectionmessage; third processing circuitry 44 configured to update thetemporary user profile in the visited user profile server 22, theupdating comprising new user profile preferences; first transmittingcircuitry 45 configured to transmit to the home user profile server 12the updated user profile.

The visited user profile server 22 may be provided with a processor withassociated program memory including computer program code for performingthe functionality of the various circuitries mentioned above. It shouldbe realized that the functions described may also be provided in theform of the above mentioned hardware, like for instance in the form ofASIC circuits. The computer program code may be provided on a computerreadable means, for instance in the form of a data carrier, like a CDROM disc, a memory stick or a DVD disc, which will implement thefunction of the above-described units of the communication aspectinvestigating device when being loaded into a computer.

In particular, a computer program 52 for enabling the above functionsmay be provided. The computer program 52 comprises computer program codewhich, when run on the visited user profile server 22, e.g. a processor50 therein, causes the visited user profile server 22 to: receive fromthe home user profile server 12 a user profile for a user visiting thevisited network 20; create a temporary user profile for the user basedon the received user profile, and update the temporary user profile withnew user profile preferences obtained while the user roams in thevisited network 20.

The computer program 52 may further comprise computer program codewhich, when run on the visited user profile server 22, e.g. in theprocessor 50, causes the visited user profile server 22 to: receive aclose connection message; update the temporary user profile in thevisited user profile server 22, the updating comprising latest userprofile preferences; transmit to the home user profile server 12 theupdated user profile. The program code can thus also be provided as apure computer program. This computer program would then include computerprogram modules, which include computer program instructions thatimplement the functionality of the circuitry. This may be downloadedfrom a server, for instance via the Internet or via a point-to-pointconnection.

In an embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 7 b, a computer program product 53is provided comprising the computer program 52 and a computer readablemeans 51 on which the computer program 52 is stored.

With reference to FIG. 8, a method 40 in the visited gateway server 21in the communication system 1 is described. The method 40 comprises thefirst step of receiving 41 a user's identification from the userequipment 2 that is requesting access to the visited network 20. Theuser identification may be a Mobile Subscriber Integrated ServicesDigital Network Number (MSISDN), by means of which a subscription, andthereby the subscriber (user), is uniquely identified. That is, atelephone number of the subscriber identification module (SIM) card inthe user equipment 2 can be identified and thus the user. TheInternational Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), stored on a subscriberidentification module (SIM) card, is a unique identification associatedwith the user of the user equipment 2. The MSISDN together with IMSI aretwo examples of user identification that can be used for identifying thesubscriber.

The method 40 comprises the second step of transmitting 42, in responseto the received user identification, an identifier of the visited userprofile server 22 to the user equipment 2. The user equipment 2 may thenconvey the identifier of the visited user profile server 22 to the homeuser profile server 12, thereby enabling the exchange of user profiles.

The identifier of the visited user profile server 22 comprises a uniqueidentifier pointing to the visited user profile server 22, and may forexample be a domain name address or Internet protocol address.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 9, the method 40 comprises thestep of transmitting 43 the identifier of the visited user profileserver 22 to the authentication, authorization and accounting proxy 29of the visited network. The AAA proxy 29, described earlier, is therebyable to convey the identifier of the visited user profile server 22 tothe authentication, authorization and accounting server 19 of the homenetwork 10.

In the method 40, the step of receiving a user identification from theuser equipment 2 may be performed during a procedure for initiating, bythe user equipment 2, a new access to the visiting network 20, as wasdescribed earlier with reference to FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 10, a method 60 in the visited user profileserver 22 is described. The method 60 comprises a step of receiving 61from the home user profile server 12 a user profile for a user visitingthe visited network 20. The method 60 comprises a step of creating 62 atemporary user profile for the user based on the received user profile.The method 60 comprises a step of receiving 63 new user profilepreferences for the user obtained while the user roams in the visitednetwork 20. The method 60 comprises a step of updating 64 the temporaryuser profile with the new user profile preferences.

The received user profile may be based on for instance a pre-configuredpolicy, a service level agreement between the home network 10 and thevisited network 20, user profile information allowed by the user and/orsubscription data of the user.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 11, the method 60 comprises thefurther steps of receiving 65 a close connection message; updating 66,in response to the close connection message, the temporary user profilein the visited user profile server 22, the updating comprising new userprofile preferences; and transmitting 67 to the home user profile server12 the updated user profile.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 12, the method 60 comprises thefurther step of receiving, after transmitting to the home user profileserver 12 the updated user profile, deleting 68 the temporary userprofile for the user. There is no need for the roaming partner, i.e. theoperator of the visited network 20, to keep or update data about theuser profile servers of each network included in a roaming agreement.The data needed to exchange user profiles is easily conveyed whenneeded. Further, the temporary user profiles may be deleted from thevisited user profile server 22 once the user leaves the visited network20.

With reference to FIG. 13, a method 70 in the user equipment 2,described earlier with reference to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, is described. Themethod 70 comprises a step of requesting 71 access to the visitednetwork. The method 70 comprises a step of receiving 72, in response tothe request, from a visited gateway server 21 of the visited network 20,an identifier of a visited user profile server 22. The method 70comprises a step of conveying 73 the identifier of the visited userprofile server 22 to the home user profile server 12.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 14, the step of conveying theidentifier of the visited user profile server comprises performing 74 ina mobile internet protocol, MIP, registration or binding. In particular,for IP version 4 (IPv4), a registration request message is used foradding the identifier of the visited user profile server 22, and for IPversion 6 (IPv6), a binding message is used for adding the identifier ofthe visited user profile server 22.

The step of conveying the identifier of the visited user profile server22 further comprises adding 75 in the MIP registration or binding anidentifier of the visited user profile server 22, and conveying 76 theidentifier of the visited user profile server 22 to the home userprofile server 12. The identifier of the visited user profile server 22is thus carried from the visiting network 20 to the home gateway server11 in a message depending on the IP version used by the user equipment.In implementing the invention, there is no need to introduce impact onentities of the MIP architecture, as extensions to the existing bindingor registration request are used.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A method in a visited gateway server in acommunication system comprising a home network and a visited network,for enabling exchange of user profiles between a visited user profileserver of the visited network and a home user profile server of the homenetwork, the method comprising: receiving a user identification from auser equipment requesting access to the visited network; andtransmitting, in response to received user identification, an identifierof the visited user profile server to the user equipment for conveyanceby the user equipment to the home user profile server, thereby enablingthe exchange of user profiles.
 27. The method as claimed in claim 26,comprising the step of: transmitting the identifier of the visited userprofile server to an authentication, authorization and accounting proxyof the visited network, which proxy thereby is able to convey theidentifier of the visited user profile server to an authentication,authorization and accounting server of the home network.
 28. The methodas claimed in claim 26, wherein the step of receiving a useridentification from the user equipment is performed during a procedurefor initiating, by the user equipment, a new access to the visitingnetwork.
 29. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the identifierof the visited user profile server comprises a unique identifierpointing to the visited user profile server.
 30. The method as claimedin claim 29, wherein the unique identifier comprises a domain nameaddress or Internet protocol address.
 31. A visited gateway server in acommunication system comprising a home network and a visited network forenabling exchange of user profiles between a visited user profile serverof the visited network and a home user profile server of the homenetwork, comprising: receiving circuitry for receiving a useridentification from a user equipment, and transmitting circuitry; andwherein the visited gateway server is configured to transmit, by meansof the transmitting circuitry, an identifier of the visited user profileserver to the user equipment in response to receiving, by means of thereceiving circuitry, the user identification, for conveyance by the userequipment to the home user profile server, whereby the visited userprofile server and the home user profile server are able to initiateuser profiles exchange.
 32. A computer readable medium storing acomputer program for enabling, in a communication system comprising ahome network and a visited network, exchange of user profiles between avisited user profile server of the visited network and a home userprofile server of the home network, the computer program comprisingcomputer program code which, when run on a visited gateway server of thevisited network, causes the visited gateway server to: receive a useridentification from a user equipment requesting access to the visitednetwork; and transmit, in response to receiving the user identification,an identifier of the visited user profile server to the user equipmentfor conveyance by the user equipment to the home user profile server,whereby the visited user profile server and the home user profile serverare able to exchange user profiles.
 33. A method in a visited userprofile server of a communication system comprising a home network and avisited network for enabling exchange of user profiles between a homeuser profile server of the home network and a visited user profileserver of the visited network, the method comprising: receiving from thehome user profile server a user profile for a user visiting the visitednetwork; creating a temporary user profile for the user based on thereceived user profile; receiving new user profile preferences for theuser obtained while the user roams in the visited network; and updatingthe temporary user profile with the new user profile preferences. 34.The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the received user profile isbased on one or more of: a pre-configured policy, a service levelagreement between the home network and the visited network, user profileinformation allowed by the user, and subscription data of the user. 35.The method as claimed in claim 33, comprising the further steps of:receiving a close connection message; updating, in response to the closeconnection message, the temporary user profile in the visited userprofile server, the updating comprising new user profile preferences;and transmitting to the home user profile server the updated userprofile.
 36. The method as claimed in claim 35, comprising the step of,after transmitting the updated user profile to the home user profileserver, deleting the temporary user profile for the user.
 37. A visiteduser profile server of a communication system comprising a home networkand a visited network, for enabling exchange of user profile preferencesbetween a home user profile server of the home network and a visiteduser profile server of the visited network, the visited user profileserver comprising: first receiving circuitry configured to receive fromthe home user profile server a user profile for a user visiting thevisited network; first processing circuitry configured to create atemporary user profile for the user based on the user profile receivedby means of the first receiving circuitry; and second processingcircuitry configured to update the temporary user profile with new userprofile preferences obtained while the user equipment roams in thevisited network.
 38. The visited user profile server as claimed in claim37, further comprising: second receiving circuitry configured to receivea close connection message; third processing circuitry configured toupdate the temporary user profile in the visited user profile server,the updating comprising new user profile preferences; and firsttransmitting circuitry configured to transmit the updated user profileto the home user profile server.
 39. A computer readable medium storinga computer program for enabling, in a communication system comprising ahome network and a visited network, exchange of user profiles between avisited user profile server of the visited network and a home userprofile server of the home network, the computer program comprisingcomputer program code which, when run on the visited user profile serverof the visited network, causes the visited user profile server to:receive from the home user profile server a user profile for a uservisiting the visited network; create a temporary user profile for theuser based on the received user profile; and update the temporary userprofile with new user profile preferences obtained while the user roamsin the visited network.
 40. The computer program as claimed in claim 39,further comprising computer program code which, when run on the visiteduser profile server of the visited network, causes the visited userprofile server to: receive a close connection message; update thetemporary user profile in the visited user profile server, the updatingcomprising latest user profile preferences; and transmit the updateduser profile to the home user profile server.
 41. A method in a userequipment of a communication system comprising a home network and avisited network for enabling exchange of user profiles between a homeuser profile server of the home network and a visited user profileserver of the visited network, the method comprising: requesting accessto the visited network; receiving, in response to the request, from avisited gateway server of the visited network, an identifier of avisited user profile server; and conveying the identifier of the visiteduser profile server to the home user profile server.
 42. The method asclaimed in claim 41, wherein the step of conveying the identifier of thevisited user profile server comprises: performing a mobile internetprotocol (MIP) registration or binding; adding in the MIP registrationor binding an identifier of the visited user profile server; andconveying the identifier of the visited user profile server to the homeuser profile server.
 43. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein thestep of conveying the identifier of the visited user profile servercomprises adding in a registration or binding request message theidentifier of the visited user profile server.
 44. The method as claimedin claim 41, wherein the identifier of the visited user profile servercomprises a unique identifier pointing to the visited user profileserver.
 45. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the uniqueidentifier comprises a domain name address or Internet protocol address.46. A user equipment of a communication system comprising a home networkand a visited network, for enabling exchange of user profiles between ahome user profile server of the home network and a visited user profileserver of the visited network, the user equipment comprising a firstprocessor configured to: request access to the visited network utilizingaccess circuitry; receive, by means of first receiving circuitry and inresponse to the request, from a visited gateway server of the visitednetwork, an identifier of a visited user profile server; and convey,using first transmitting circuitry, the identifier of the visited userprofile server to the home user profile server.
 47. A computer readablemedium storing a computer program for enabling in a communication systemcomprising a home network and a visited network, the exchange of userprofiles between a visited user profile server of the visited networkand a home user profile server of the home network, the computer programcomprising computer program code which, when run on a user equipment,causes the user equipment to: